Do you own a dated bookcase? Plastic laminate or wood, it doesn’t matter, all can be improved with a little work and a few materials. This weekend project uses just a minimum amount of wood pieces, moldings, and a few basic tools. After all is painted you will have a detailed piece of furniture that will have the look of a custom-made bookcase. Tools & Materials: Wood pieces, miter box and saw or chop saw (can be rented), wood glue, hammer 1 1/2” finish nails, finish nail set, sandable wood... more

More than 125 years have passed since the invention of the light bulb. With a multitude of fixture styles ranging from Classical to the Atomic Age, the opportunity to distinguish your home is endless. Northwest Renovation asks local lighting experts what’s hot in 2005. Visit inmod.com to find this lighting fixture and more great lighting solutions. Photo courtesy of inmod Ozzie and Harriet Make a Comeback If you want a table lamp like the one found in the living room of any 1950s family... more

Lighting can make all the difference in how you feel about your house. By using different lighting techniques you can create the desired feel for your home — dramatic, functional, cozy, warm, or eclectic. There are three main categories of home lighting: ambient, accent, and task. Your home should have a combination of all three types to create comfortable lighting for the needs of each room. Ambient light is the general... more

The Architectural Heritage Center located in the historic West Block Building at 701 SE Grand Ave. is the culmination of a decade’s worth of deconstruction, renovation, and new construction. Slated to open Feb. 19, the building will be home to a combined museum and education center that will include two galleries, classrooms and workshops, collection storage spaces, and offices. Built in 1883, the oldest... more

With many homeowners wanting to keep their vintage windows and find answers to the inefficiency of their windows, Chosen has developed a new mobile workshop to replace single pane glass with one-piece double pane insulated and energy efficient glass. This new system uses the existing old growth fir sash and keeps the inside vintage profile of these old windows in place. Owner, Vern Forrest, using his new system to remove... more

Below are offerings from four major manufacturers of the 18-19.2V combo tool kit. These kits contain the basic tools for any homeowner. Each offer four to eight different tools but all offer a drill, reciprocating saw, and circular saw. In addition to the three main tools are flashlights, jig saw, blower, chain saw, vacuum, stud finder, and digital measuring laser. Prices for these kits vary. Consider checking out the Internet... more

Back in 1930, it took six tries before Dwight Parr senior succeeded in opening a lumber store that 75 years later has 25 locations in Oregon and Washington and employs more than 600 people. With a focus on customer service that encourages both consumers and contractors to make Parr Lumber their first choice for building supplies, the family-owned company today ranks 23rd in the nation, with sales revenue eclipsing... more

Sometimes we finish a painting project and the surface appears less than fresh. Poor hiding — the failure of paint to conceal the previous coating — is a common painting problem that is often easy to solve without applying an extra coat of paint. Quality Paint All paint companies sell many grades of paint. More important than brand name is premium grade paint. Premium paint contains not only the best pigments... more